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Adela, you tend to be a slow, dainty eater. You have never been picky, and will eat just about anything, but you do it slowly. You’ve been expressing more preferences lately, but usually it consists of a “Mommy, I don’t like this.” And you generally say it when you don’t feel like eating or if you’re getting full, not because you truly don’t like it. We had a discussion about how it isn’t kind to say that you “don’t like” food that someone else prepares for you, and I suggested some other more polite ways to express your tastes. The one that stuck with you is “Mommy, this just isn’t my thing.” Haha! And you say it now, frequently. As in, “Mommy sausage just isn’t my thing.” 🙂
Another cute theme that I’ve noticed of late is, “Daddy can fix it.” Anytime Josiah breaks something, or I see that something isn’t working and tell you it’s broken, your first response is “Daddy can fix it.” And you say it with complete confidence. You also try to explain how he’ll fix it. This morning at breakfast, Josiah snapped a crayon in half. “Daddy can fix it. Maybe with some glue.” It’s really cute. And I think it’s neat that you’ve picked up on just how amazing your Daddy is when it comes to home repairs. He truly can fix anything. I’ve yet to stump him with something truly in need of a fix, and we’ve been together for 13 years.
Josiah, you’ve discovered my old Fischer Price record player. We’ve been keeping it in your room and listing to a record each time we get ready for sleep. I wind it up and leave it playing after I put you in your crib. I love seeing you play with and appreciate my old toys. Something that has been amazing us lately is the incredible map you keep in your head. You seem to always know where we’re at when we’re driving around town. You can point in the direction of Mimi and Papi’s house from multiple roads and directions, and you always know when we’re getting close. You know where church is and have remarked accurately about several other random places. You must pick out landmarks. It amazes me that you can so accurately tell where we’re at at not even two and a half.
You continue to have some troubles transitioning these days. I know I’m in for a battle every nap and bedtime, but it’s a flash flood, not a sustained storm. It takes about 5 minutes of talking to you, calming you, doing transitioning activities like book reading and listening to music and then it’s all calm. It’s just the initial changing course that tends to throw you off course. You have been hitting and throwing things and yelling more than usual. You can get angry in a split second, and then you can turn around and be the happiest boy on the planet the next second. So much drama. Praying for wisdom in those split seconds to know how to react. You throw me off and surprise me so much. But I’m learning to anticipate your supersize reactions. Sometimes a threat of a spanking is all it takes to turn it around. Sometimes a long stint in the naughty chair is enough to redirect you. More than anything, I am learning to rely on the grace of God in these situations so that my own emotions remain under control, so that I can discipline you calmly, with love and wisdom. It’s hard to not yell back at you sometimes, especially the 100th time in a day we’ve dealt with an issue, but the Lord is teaching me to be Spirit led. Modeling correct responses in the face of overwhelming emotion will teach more than words or spankings ever will. This, I know. It’s a huge responsibility and one that I desire with my whole heart to be successful in.
Both of you are my little gym buddies. These days I’m working harder than ever to get into the best shape of my life, to break my bad sugar habits, to be fit and teach you guys the right things about food and exercise. Along with a 60 day sugar fast, I’ve also renewed my commitment to get up before you do every day and start the day with the Lord. For a long time, God has been pulling at me to do this. I’ve done it on and off, but have struggled to stick with it. I stay up too late, eating chocolate and watching TV. So my fitness decisions and my spiritual decisions are connected. Giving up sugar is a fast for physical reasons, but it’s also a fast for spiritual reasons. When I’m in bed at night, not eating chocolate, I watch less TV, I go to sleep earlier, I get up earlier, I am able to give the first part of my day to the Lord. So far, it’s been working beautifully, though I know it will be a challenge to make this a lifelong change. That is the goal. Absolutely everything is life is more manageable and more enjoyable when I feel physically fit (and don’t waste time and energy and emotions wishing I was more fit) and when I am drawing on the strength of the one who made me and knows me and has purpose for me. It’s win win. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. But it is worthwhile at the highest level.
